Alfred Easton Poor
A Register of His Papers in the Library of Congress
Prepared by Bradley E. Gernand
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Manuscript Division,
Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
2008
Contact information:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/mss/address.html
Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division,
2008
Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms008116
Title: Alfred Easton Poor Papers
Span Dates: 1866-1985
Bulk Dates: (bulk 1919-1983) ID No.: MSS75450 Creator:
Poor, Alfred Easton,
1899-1988 Extent: 600 items;
9 containers;
3.5 linear feet
Language: Collection material in
English
Repository:
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress,
Washington, D.C. Abstract: Architect and naval
officer. Correspondence, writings, publications, reports, and appointment
calendars pertaining primarily to Poor's architectural career, particularly his
designs for public buildings, and his naval service during World War I and
World War II.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person
or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed
alphabetically therein.
Personal Names Poor,
Alfred Easton, 1899-1988.
Organizations Library
of Congress James Madison Memorial Building (Washington, D.C.) National
Academy of Design (U.S.) United
States Capitol (Washington, D.C.) United
States. Naval Reserve. United
States. Navy--Officers.
Subjects Architecture--Washington
(D.C.) Memorials--North
Carolina. Public buildings--United
States. World War, 1914-1918--Naval
operations, American. World War, 1939-1945--Naval
operations, American.
Locations Wright
Brothers National Memorial (N.C.)
Occupations Architects. Naval
officers.
Provenance: The papers of Alfred E. Poor, architect and naval officer, were given
to the Library of Congress by Poor in 1979. An addition was received from his
estate in 1988.
Processing History:The papers of Alfred Easton Poor were arranged and described in 1992.
The register was revised in 2008.
Transfers:Some photographic images, architectural drawings and plans,
construction reports, and related materials have been transferred to the
Library's Prints and Photographs Division where they are identified as part of
the Albert Easton Poor Papers.
Copyright Status:The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Albert Easton
Poor is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).
Preferred Citation:Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Alfred Easton Poor Papers, Manuscript
Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Date |
Event |
1899, May 24 |
Born, Baltimore, Md. |
1911-1916 |
St. George's School, Newport, R.I. |
1918-1919 |
Ensign, United States Navy |
1920 |
A.B., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. |
1923 |
B.A., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. |
1923-1925 |
Draftsman, Peabody; Wilson & Brown; John Russell
Pope
|
1924 |
M.A., University of Pennsylvania |
1925 |
Woodman traveling fellow in architecture |
1925-1927 |
Independent practice as architect |
1927-1932 |
Partner, Rodgers & Poor, New York, N.Y. |
1929 |
Married Janet Sheppard |
1932 |
Published
Colonial Architecture of Cape
Cod. New York: W. Helburn
|
1942-1946 |
Commander, United States Naval Reserve |
1946-1947 |
Partner, Walker & Gillette, New York, N.Y. |
1947-1952 |
Partner, Walker & Poor |
1972-1975 |
Partner, Poor and Swanke |
1975-1988 |
Partner, Poor, Swanke, Hayden & Connell |
1988, Jan. 13 |
Died, New York, N.Y. |
The papers of Alfred Easton Poor (1899-1988) span the years 1866-1985,
with the bulk of the items concentrated in the period from 1919 to 1983. The
papers are organized into
Correspondence,
Subject
Files, and
Miscellany
series.
Poor was an architect who designed and renovated some of the nation's
most prominent public spaces. He was principal architect of the memorial to the
Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, and was principal or
contributing architect of the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of
Congress. He was also involved in the restoration of the West Front and
renovation of the Old Supreme Court chamber of the United States Capitol. Other
designs by Poor included government buildings in New York and military
airfields and buildings around the world. .
The
Correspondence series, dated 1866, 1901, and 1919-1983,
chiefly concerns Poor's military service during the world wars and the
activities of his architectural firm in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Much of
Poor's correspondence regarding his architectural career was destroyed after
his death. The remaining correspondence is disparate and sporadic, except for a
surviving two-year segment of office chronological files from 1979 to 1981,
which Poor accumulated while associated with Poor, Swanke, Hayden &
Connell.
The
Subject
Files consist of correspondence, reports, and related material regarding
Poor's architectural designs, his activities as an official of the National
Academy of Design, family matters, and aircraft during World War II.
The
Miscellany
series includes Poor's daily calendars, notes and notations, programs,
publications containing information about his designs, and a small number of
writings by Poor and his father.
No specifications, drawings, or conceptualizations for any of Poor's
designs are found in these papers, but a collection of such items is available
in the Library's Prints and Photographs Division.
This collection is arranged in three series:
Container |
Series |
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BOX 1
|
|
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Letters and attached material to and from Poor regarding a
variety of subjects, chief of which are his military service during the world
wars and the activities of his architectural firm.
|
|
Arranged chronologically by year, month, and day. |
|
BOX 2-4
|
|
|
Correspondence, reports, and related material regarding several
subjects, most notably Poor's major design contracts.
|
|
Arranged alphabetically by subject and therein
chronologically.
|
|
BOX 4-9
|
|
|
Daily appointment calendars, publications, and writings. |
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein
chronologically.
|
Container |
Contents |
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BOX 1
|
Correspondence,
1866-1983
|
|
Letters and attached material to and from Poor regarding a
variety of subjects, chief of which are his military service during the world
wars and the activities of his architectural firm.
|
|
Arranged chronologically by year, month, and day. |
|
BOX 1
|
1866, 1901, 1919-1983, n.d.
|
|
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BOX 2-4
|
Subject Files,
1866-1985
|
|
Correspondence, reports, and related material regarding several
subjects, most notably Poor's major design contracts.
|
|
Arranged alphabetically by subject and therein
chronologically.
|
|
BOX 2
|
Aircraft during World War II,
1943-1945
|
|
(2
folders)
|
|
BOX 2
|
Architecture |
|
BOX 2
|
General,
1933-1981
|
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BOX 2
|
Poor, Alfred Easton
|
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BOX 2
|
General,
1934-1955
|
|
BOX 2
|
Library of Congress, James
Madison Memorial Building, Washington, D.C.,
1979-1985
|
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BOX 2
|
Registration by state,
1953-1978
|
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BOX 2
|
United States Capitol,
Washington, D.C.
|
|
BOX 2
|
Old Senate Chamber,
1961-1964
|
|
BOX 2
|
West Front,
1972-8219
|
|
BOX 3
|
Wright Brothers Memorial,
Kitty Hawk, N.C.,
1930-1981
|
|
(2
folders)
|
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BOX 3
|
Fontainbleu School of Fine Arts,
Barbizon, France,
1933
|
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BOX 3
|
Knickerbocker Club, New York,
N.Y.,
1970-1985
See also Correspondence series |
|
BOX 3
|
National Academy of Design,
1974-1975
|
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(2
folders)
|
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BOX 3
|
Poor, Alfred Easton, and family,
1866-1974
|
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(3
folders)
|
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BOX 4
|
Yachting |
|
BOX 4
|
Bermuda Ocean Yacht Race,
1958
|
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(2
folders)
|
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BOX 4
|
General,
1963-1964
|
|
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BOX 4-9
|
Miscellany,
1910-1983
|
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Daily appointment calendars, publications, and writings. |
|
Arranged alphabetically by type of material and therein
chronologically.
|
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BOX 4
|
Artifacts |
|
BOX 4
|
Medal for architecture by the
XI Olympiad in Berlin, Germany,
1936
|
|
BOX 4
|
Medal for architectural
contributions toward the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of
Congress,
circa 1982
|
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BOX 4
|
Daily appointment
calendars
|
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BOX 4
|
1935-1955
|
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(2
folders)
|
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BOX 5
|
1956-1983
|
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(5
folders)
|
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BOX 6
|
Logbooks |
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BOX 6
|
Flight,
1918-1934
|
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BOX 6
|
Yachting,
1959-1960
|
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(2
folders)
|
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BOX 6
|
Notes and sketches |
|
BOX 6
|
Architectural history,
n.d.
|
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(2
folders)
|
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BOX 6
|
Architecture,
n.d.
|
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BOX 6
|
Aviation,
n.d.
|
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(2
folders)
|
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BOX 6
|
General,
n.d.
|
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BOX 7
|
Photographs,
n.d.
|
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BOX 7
|
Printed materials |
|
BOX 7
|
Events and programs,
1910-1984
|
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(6
folders)
|
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BOX 7
|
General
(unfoldered)
|
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BOX 7
|
1919-1920
|
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BOX 8
|
1927-1975
|
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BOX 9
|
1975, n.d.
|
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BOX 9
|
Speeches and lectures,
1958-1970, n.d.
|
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BOX 9
|
Writings |
|
BOX 9
|
Poor, Alfred Easton (short
stories),
circa 1917-1938
|
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BOX 9
|
Poor, Charles Lane (science
papers),
1946
|
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